The electric scooter market in India is expanding rapidly and now another new startup has thrown its hat in the ring, River with its new practicality-first Indie e-scooter. Here are 5 important things you need to know about it. 

River Indie e-scooter: Battery & range

The River Indie is powered by a fixed 4kWh battery which is good for a claimed real-world range of 120 km on a single charge. The company has given a warranty of 5 years/50,000 km for this battery pack, which is also valid for the scooter as a whole.  

River Indie e-scooter: Motor & performance

The River Indie has a mid-mounted motor with a 6.7kW peak output which allows it to have a gradeability of 18 degrees, higher than an Ola S1 Pro (15 degrees) but lower than an Ather 450X (20 degrees). The Indie can manage the 0-40 kph sprint in 3.9s and has a claimed top speed of 90kph.  

River Indie e-scooter: Features & underpinnings

The River Indie is suspended by a telescopic fork/twin shock absorber setup, with the latter featuring preload adjustability. It gets twin disc brakes at either end, measuring 240mm/200mm (front/rear), with CBS. 

The Indie gets a colour LCD dash and a host of accessories such as a 25-litre top box and a set of panniers capable of storing up to 40 litres of luggage. The Indie gets three riding modes – Eco, Ride and Rush – and the 90 kph top speed can be achieved in all except Eco mode. 

River Indie e-scooter: Focus on practicality

With a cavernous 43 litre underseat storage space and a 12 litre front glove box, the Indie has a total storage capacity of 55 litres, which is more than twice the total on some electric and petrol scooters. Its front footpegs allow you to place luggage on the floorboard and the crash guards will help protect the bodywork in the event of a mishap.  

River Indie e-scooter: Pricing and rivals

At its introductory price of Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru, including the charger and FAME-II subsidy), the River Indie undercuts nearly all the established e-scooters available on the market. The Indie is very much a practical runabout as opposed to a sporty machine, evident in the crash guards, large underseat storage area and accessory luggage options.